City of Joy Page #4

RAVI:

It's not extravagant at all. You

can't go around all week in yourtribal garb.

Max sees a boy's face pressed to the glass: he indicates

the shirt, for the boy's approval. The boy smiles awonderful smile.

RAVI:

Now he looks civilized, doesn't

he, Manubai?

MANUBAI:

Almost.

Max looks at her. She at him.

16.

EXT. MEN'S SHOP - DAY

Man leans down, whispers to the smiling boy...

MAX:

You sure I look all right?

The little boy nods. Max slips him several rupees...

and he, Manubai, and Ravi fold themselves into her tiny

car as -

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Shambu runs to his dejected family.

SHAMBU:

Look! A man gave me these manymoneys!

HASARI:

What man? Why -- did you ask himfor money?

SHAMBU:

He just gave it to me.

HASARI:

Where is he?

Shambu looks, but the car's gone.

HASARI:

Don't do that. We're not beggars.

Shambu is devastated. Out of his own desperation,

Hasari feels he's been a little rough on the boy. He

holds him close.

HASARI:

Go back to the river. Wait for me

by the tree. Don't go anywhere.

Do you understand?

Aloka, the boys nod. We WATCH them as Hasari heads

off, quickly becoming a small figure disappearing intothe sea.

EXT. JUTE MILL DAY - LATE AFTERNOON SUN

Starting to sink. We PAN DOWN TO Hasari stepping toa grilled window as the man ahead moves out.

17.

INT. JUTE MILL - DAY

A flaking gray wall, half-obscured with moldering files.

The grilled window lets in a little light and the quietsupplications of those outside.

An old CLERK at a desk. A voice calls out. The Clerk

looks up, crosses to the grill.

Hasari's tense face through the bars. A TRUCK RUMBLES

past, drowning out the words... except these: "...trade

union." The Clerk shakes his head sadly. On the vergeof panic, Hasari hangs onto the window...

CLERK:

Do you have family?

HASARI:

Yes, yes of course. But I'm

three days without work. I'll

take anything.

The Clerk digs in his pocket, presses two rupees onHasari.

CLERK:

Here, now go away.

HASARI:

No, I don't want you to give me -

The next man in line forcibly moves Hasari out of the

way.

CLERK:

In this city, a man with a familycan't be proud. Take it!

The Clerk waves him away, turns his attention to the

next man.

INT. CHATTERGEE RECEPTION ROOM - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)

Manubai's face. Then Max's. Then hers. Then his.

Looking at each other. Five days. Kiss. Ravi.

MAX:

I said you have three days toget me into bed, and I'm bettingyou can't do it.

(CONTINUED)

18.

CONTINUED:

MANUBAI:

It's all right for you to use mymother as your tour guide andmeal ticket, because she'll getsomething nice out of it. But

what would I get?

He stares at her a moment, then gets up, goes around thetable.

MAX:

Well, gee, I don't know. Maybe Icould say something so amusingthat you'd laugh so hard it wouldbreak that hot poker you have up

your ass.

She stares at him. He bends to kiss her. She doesn't

pull away... but after a moment he realizes she isn'tresponding. He continues the kiss, but he opens hiseyes... to find her staring at him. He pulls back.

They stare at each other another moment, then Maxsenses someone in the doorway.

RAVI:

Staring at them, disappointment filling her eyes.

MAX:

The same sound of frustration and ennui he made in the

ashram.

EXT. CHATTERGEE HOME - DAY

His arm around Max, Veejay guides the young man towarda waiting taxi.

VEEJAY:

Believe me, I understand, but youknow how women are. Do you haveenough money?

Max gives him a non-commital shrug. Veejay winks,

stuffs the money into Max's pocket.

EXT. GREEN ACRES COURTYARD - COW - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)

Bare feet... and then sneakered feet step over the sleeping

bovine, who turns a disinterested eye up.

19.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Max is guided by a grumpy hall PORTER wearing an off-

white shirt and bellbottoms through the walled and wellplanted courtyard of an inexpensive hotel. Max gives thecow a bemused eye...

INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY

The room is utterly utilitarian. The Porter turns on a

ceiling fan, sending an army of cockroaches scurryingfor calmer terrain. Max clearly doesn't care forcockroaches.

PORTER:

It pleases you?

MAX:

No fruit basket? No mini bar?

Max hands the Porter several rupees.

PORTER:

Bar? Of course -- many, many.

But make care, Sahib. Please,

for me. If it is lady you liketo know -- yes? -- you let me.

Huh? Very sweet girl, good

nature, very sweet. Or boy, verygood...

Max puts a finger on the Porter's head, turns him forthe door.

PORTER:

No like boy? Something then forsmoke -- mmmh, very good for smoke!

AT DOOR:

Max eases the Porter out. As the door is closing...

PORTER:

Maybe you like two girls -- looka little Chinese, but very greatpleasure.

Max smiles his smile and disappears the Porter behind theclosed door. The smile disappears and the FAN gets hisattention; it has an annoying rhythm and sound. He

flicks the switch, but the fan continues to snap around.

(CONTINUED)

20.

CONTINUED:

He stares at it... and startles us by suddenly flickingout a hand and grabbing the blade, stopping the fan.

He lets go. The fan is still. He carries his knapsackto the tub; it has brown stains along the middle andthe water has a brown tinge as it flows out of the tap.

He sits on the edge of the tub, dumps his knapsack onthe floor, picks up a half-dozen pamphlets from theashram.

CLOSE ON PAMPHLETS

Guides to inner peace.

RESUME:

He wings the pamphlets at the trashcan.

EXT. RIVERBANK - HOWRAH BRIDGE - DAY (EARLY EVENING)

Hasari comes around the corner of a warehouse, a smile

on his face, clutching some bananas and dried grain.

His relief -- and ours -- is short-lived.

TREE AND BANK:

The space where he left the family has been clearedand taken over by trucks. He's lost his family.

HOWRAH BRIDGE ROAD

A group of Hindus are celebrating a puja, the womensinging canticles at the top of their lungs; the mentossing a little boy happily back and forth... as thepanic-stricken Hasari rushes up.

HASARI:

My wife, my children...

Hasari rushes on. Suddenly we -

CUT TO:

UNDER BRIDGE - DAY

His head turns and his eyes look this way, that way...

until out of the near silence, we hear a distant,

extraordinary word...

(CONTINUED)

21.

CONTINUED:

CHILD (O.S.)

Daaaaaaddddddyyyyy!

The word catches Hasari's ear. He looks into the sea

of people along the river bank under the bridge.

CHILD (O.S.)

Daaaaaadddddddyyyy!

As in a dream, Shambu rises up out of the sea of bodies... and runs to his father.

SHAMBU:

Daaaaadddddyyyy!

Now, Aloka, Amrita, Manooj appear, rising up out of thesea, ending Hasari's nightmare.

A warrior returning from battle, Hasari engulfs thelittle boy.

HASARI:

I told you to remain where I leftyou! I told you to stay there!

MANOOJ:

The police came!

SHAMBU:

We said we had to meet you, butthey didn't care! They weremean!

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